Stage lift flowing device



Oct. 25, 1932. BOYNTQN 1,84,55@

STAGE LIFT FLOWING DEVICE Filed Nov. 4, 192.7

J l. INVENTOR /w Alexander .Bqynton,

ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 25, 1932 ALEXANDER BOYNTON, OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS STAGE LIFT FLOWIN G DEVICE Application filed November 4, 1927. Serial No. 231,073.

My invention relates to automatic stage lift flowing devices such as disclosed in my co-pending applications Serial Nos. 181,144, filed April 5, 1927 and 192,049, filed August 24, 1927, and more particularly to an improved valve for controlling the admission of the lifting agent to the fluid elevating conduit at various stages or elevations.

In the embodiment of the inventions disclosed in these applications, valves of the thrust or longitudinally movable type are employed for automatically controlling the passage of the lifting agent to the liquid elevating conduit. The present invention contemplates an automatic valve wherein the Valve element is movable at right angles to the direction of flow to open and closed positions thereby reducing impact or shock to the contacting parts to a minimum.

Further the invention provides a valve for well flowing devices which is smooth in operation and capable of delicate and sensitive adjustment.

The invention also provides a valve of this i type wherein the valve element is arranged to roll upon and away from the valve seat thus freeing the latter at all times of paraffin, asphalt or other gummy substances which are elevated from oil wells incident to flowing of the latter.

lVith the preceding and other objects and advantages in mind, the invention consists in the novel combination of elements, constructions and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter specifically referred to, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of my improvement;

Figure 2 is a similar view of a modification of the invention; and

Figure 3 is a detail view of the adjustable follower used in connection with other embodiments of the invention.

Referring to the invention in detail and more particularly to Figure 1 wherein a tubing adaptation, referred to in connection with the co-pending application Serial No. 181,144, a cylindrical conduit threaded at its opposite ends for engagement with the adjacent tubing sections, not shown,

is provided.

A relatively small bore longitudinally extending circular chamber or fluid passageway 6 is formed with one side of the conduit 5 and extends the lower end of the entire length thereof. The chamber 6 is open to communicate with the well casing not shown,

while communication between and chamber is es the conduit 5 tablished by way of a port 7 extending transversely through one side of the conduit and chamber adjacent to its lower end, the port opening into a concave valve seat 8 upon the interior of this chamber 6. In drilling or otherwise forming the transverse port 7 and provide an opening in valve seat it is necessary to the chamber 6 at a point diametrically opposite this port, and, after the drilling operation, the opening is sealed by a threa ded plug 4. A vertically and laterally movable spherical valve ele- 7o ment 9, adapted to seat upon the seat 8 to sever communication between the conduit and the well caslng when the external or casing pressure e xceeds the tubing pressure,

just below the valve seat back pressure, 11 liquid being elev above the Valve element, and plus frictional when the tubing amely, the weight of the ated plus the lifting agent resistance exceeds the external or well casing pressure, a vert ically movable cylindrical plunger 10 of considerably less diameter than the bore of the chamber lower end of the chamber and has a flat upper 6 is arranged in the end 11 upon which the valve element reposes for rolling move ment thereon.

When the valve is in open position the plunger 10 rests (1 ing 12 threadedly of the chamber.

irectly upon a tubular bushengaged with the lower end In order to centralize the plunger while resting on the bushing, the

upper end of the tral concave seat latter is formed with a cen- 13 while the lower end of the plunger is convex or rounded as at 14 to fit within the seat.

Cooperating with the plunger and circular valve element in permitting the valve element to remain open until a predetermined differential press ure exists between the tubing pressure and the casing pressure is an expansible coil spring which is arranged in the up r end of the chamber and rests upon acy indrical follower 16 loosely fitted within the chamber and terminates at its lower end in a stem 17 of relatively small diameter. For example, if the plunger 10 and follower 16 are each H," in diameter, the st 3m would be in diameter, and for this size of plunger and follower the chamber 6 music wire should be between .110 and .125 on pitches which may vary from four to six coils to the inch. All other dimensions may be substantially as shown.

The devices should be so spaced in the tubing string that the weight of fluid in the tubing between adjacent devices is from onefourth to one-half as much as the pressure per square inch required to compress the spring and thereby force the plunger to sealing-ofi engagement upon its upper seat. For illustration, assume the weight of the fluid between any two adjacent devices to be lbs. per square inch, then the pressure per square inch required to compress the spring and seal-ofl the plunger upon its upper seat should be lbs. to lbs.

The above spacing gives the best results and states the spacing rule correctly, but flow will be initiated and maintained if the weight of the fluid per square inch between the valves is only slightly less than the pressure per square inch required to compress the spring sufficiently to cause the plunger to seal-o upon its upper seat. For illustration, assume the weight of the fluid between any two adjacent devices to be 30 lbs. per square inch, then the pressure per square inch required to compress the spring until the plunger sealsofi upon its upper seat must be slightly over 30 lbs. and should, as first stated, be

from 60 lbs. to 120 lbs. The lower end of this stem rests upon the circular valve element and in order to reduce the friction between this valve element and stem its contacting end 18 is flat so that it will have but a slight bearing surface on the valve element.

t its" upper end the expansible spring is normally spaced from the upper or end wall of the chamber so that the plunger, valve element and follower will move a predetermined distance before the spring will abut this end wall and place the spring under compression. This condition is necessary in order to permit the plunger and valve element to rise sufliciently to permit the casing pressure to pass through the chamber and uild up with the tubing. It will be observed that as the pressure builds up in the tubing the valve element is slowly seating to throttle down the casing pressure as the tubing pressure approaches the pressure neces sary to l'ft a predetermined weight or volume of liquid a predetermined elevation, at a predetermined velocity.

Operation The casing pressure lifts and sustains the plunger, valve element, follower and spring, permitting pressure fluid to pass into the conduit and well tubing connected therewith. As the upward moving column of liquid in the tubing attains maximum velocity, the tubing pressure decreases, establishing a pressure differential between the external or casing pressure and the tubing pressure. That is, the casing pressure now exceeds the weight of the liquid column plus tubing pressure, which of course includes frictional re sistance due to velocity. The differential pressure now existing further lifts the plunger with sufiicient force to engage the expansible spring with the end wall of the chamber, placing the latter under compression. The expansible spring being of a given potential strength has to be compressed a predetermined degree by a predetermined force (the casing pressure) to permit the plunger to be elevated to such height as to dispose the valve element in horizontal alinement with the valve seat 8. Pressure rushing through the port 7 into the conduit draws the spherical valve element against the seat gradually throttling the pressure supply and finally sealing the port.

It follows that no further casing pressure can enter the tubing until the tubing pressure approaches the casing pressure to a degree where the potential energy of the compressed spring and weight of the follower will disengage the valve element from its seat, permitting the latter to roll laterally away from the seat gradually increasing the intake area to the transverse port.

Due to the rolling engagement of the valve element with its seat, the former is at all times free to break the seal of gummy substances such as paraflin, asphalt, etc., which might be presented. In other words, these gummy substances resist the opening action of the valve in two ways-first, by adhesion, and second, by suction, or the tendency to create a vacuum between the valve seat and the valve as the latter opens. With the valve element receding directly away from the seat, it must resist and overcome both the force of adhesion and suction which is acting upon the entire area of the opposed faces of the valve seat and valve element. It will be observed that my invention overcomes these objections in that the vacuum is first broken upon one side of the valve and its seat and Similarly, the adhesion of the gummy substances is overcome at one point upon the seat and valve and permits the latter to. pull away from the sea In Figure 2 a modification embodying what is referred to in the co-pending application Serial No. 181,144 as the casing adaptation, is disclosed. In this embodiment of the invention the chamber 6 receives a threaded plug 20 in one side at a point intermediate its ends, having a central outlet 21 and a concave valve seat 22 upon its inner face while communication between the conduit and the chamber is established by way of a transverse port 23, the latter being disposed below the plug 20. With this construction the operation of the valve is the same except fluid pressure is conducted through the conduit and associated well tubing, and the liquid raised or elevated in the well casing.

In Figure 3 a modification of the follower is illustrated wherein the stem 17 has a threaded end 24 adjustably received in a threaded bore 25 in one end of the follower whereby the stem may be lengthened or shortened to increase or decrease the tension of the expansible coil spring. However, in lieu of this adjustable follower thin washers or shims may be interposed between one end of the spring and end wall of the chamber, or the opposite end of the sprin and the follower disclosed in Figure 1. oreover, an expansible spring of greater strength than the one herein disclosed may be employed in lieu of this adjustable follower.

What is claimed is:

1. A valve comprising a body having a chamber and an outlet port for the passage of fluid, a plane-ended plunger movable in the chamber by fluid flowing toward the port and a valve element adjacent to said end of the plunger, being capable of rolling upon that end into sealing-off engagement with the port when in proximity thereto.

2. A valve comprising a body having a chamber and an outlet port for the passage of fluid, a plunger located in the chamber being movable in the direction of the port under the influence of flowing fluid and being level at that end nearest the port, and a ball in advance of the plunger, rolling upon said end into sealing-0E engagement with the port when in proximity thereto.

3. A valve comprising a body having a chamber and an outlet port for the passage of fluid, a plunger located in the chamber being movable in the direction of the port under the influence of flowing fluid and being level at thatend nearest the port, a ball in advance of the plunger, rolling upon said end into sealing-oft engagement with the port when in proximity thereto, and means rediminishing chamber and an outlet port for the passage of fluid, a ball located in the chamber, and a pair of plungers between which the ball is situated, the assembly being shifted in one direction under the pressure of fluid until the ball confronts the port with which it is drawn into sealing-off engagement from between the plungers.

5. A valve comprising a bodyhaving a chamber and an outlet port for the passage of fluid, a ball located in the chamber,.a pair of plungers between which the ball is situated, the assembly being shifted in one direction under the pressure of fluid until the'ball'coirs fronts the portwith which .it is drawn sisting the movement of. both the plunger and thereby completely destroys the vacuum. ball.

4. A valve comprising a body having a sealing-off engagement from between the, 1.

plungers, and a spring associated with one of the plungers to resist the shifting of said sembly sure.

and returning the assembly-to a for-Q. v mer posit on upon cessation of the flQi'dIPrcS- A valve comprising in bear having a chamber and an outletp g-f the passage,

fluid, a ball located in the chamber, anda pair of plungers having confronting ends of different areas with which the ball contacts and in respect to which the ball rolls to a sealingoff position 'funder suflicient fluid when confronting the port. i

7 A valve'comprisinga body havinga chamber and an outlet port for the passage of fluid,-,a ball located in the chambely'a plunger having a level end upon which the ball rests and rolls into sealing-off engagement with the port when in confronting position and under suflicient fluid pressure, and a follower having a stem contacting the ball, the point of contact being of less area than the end of the plunger to avoid impedance of the action of the ball.

8. A valve comprising a-body having a of fluid, a plurality of plungers loose in the pressure I chamber and subject to opposite axial movements under opposed forces, and a valve element held between adjoining plungers but being otherwise loose in thechamberpsaid element being-movable with "the plungers but also capable of digression from axial movement to assume a sealing-oil" engagement with v the port.

9. A valve comprising a body having a chamber with fluid inlet and outlet ports, and a ball and plunger in movable engagement with each other and adapted to move together axially of the chamber and temporarily remain suspended under increasing or pressures of fluid flowing through the chamber between the ports, the ball being adapted to roll laterally by fluid pressure to a sealing-off position when adjacent to one of the ports. I

10. A valve comprising a body having a fluid assageway with in et and outlet ports afior ing communication between the interior and exterior of the body, a pair of separate valves both movable axially of the passageway by force of fluid flowing through the passageway, one laterally departing from the other to seal 05 one of the ports under a sufliciently high fluid pressure.

11. A valve comprising a chamber having fluid inlet and outlet ports, a support disposed at one side of sai outlet port, a ball normally resting on the support out of line with the outlet port, and means tending to seat the support on the inlet port and to resist movement of the support and ball toward the outlet port.

Signed at San Antonio in the county of Bexar and State of Texas this 19th day of Oct., 1927 A. D. ALEXANDER BOYNTON. 

